Vina Patel Author Talk • The Spice Collector's Cookbook: Easy Family Recipes Inspired by Spices from Across the Globe

Vina Patel is a cookbook author, culinary explorer, and lifelong lover of bold, beautiful flavors. Raised in Gujarat, India, in a home where the kitchen was the heart of everything, Vina learned to cook alongside her grandmother and mother, developing a deep appreciation for the vibrant, spice-rich dishes of her heritage. Coming from a family of spice traders, she grew up surrounded by aromas, stories, and traditions that shaped her unique cooking style - rooted in authenticity but open to playful creativity. For Vina, food has always been about connection, joy, and discovery. A passionate traveler and self-described culinary magpie, Vina collects recipes and inspiration wherever she goes. Her books - From Gujarat With Love and the Edward Stanford Travel Writing-nominated The Spice Collectors’ Cookbook - celebrate both traditional Indian cooking and globally inspired dishes with a twist. Designed for modern kitchens, her recipes are quick, nourishing, and approachable, often ready in under 15 minutes. Whether it’s Butter Paneer Malai or Green Ravioli in Green Curry, Vina’s dishes encourage home cooks to embrace spices, break the rules a little, and find delight in every meal shared. Sara Deseran is an editor-at-large at The Standard. Previously, Sara was an editor at San Francisco Magazine and 7×7, and her writing has been featured in Bon Appétit, Eater, Food & Wine and Saveur and selected for multiple Best Food Writing anthologies. She is the author of a handful of cookbooks. She loves a good dinner party and dancing, in combination or separately. The Spice Collector's Cookbook compiles 80 original recipes from around the world, perfected by the author as she adds her native Indian flavour, flair and perfectionism. This is the cookbook to break you out of your usual cooking habits and introduce you to bold new flavors and ideas. There are authentic regional recipes, and fusion concoctions that break all the rules - all in the name of flavor!Traveling is Vina Patel's favorite hobby. She has been fortunate enough to discover over 34 countries – and counting! – and she loves trying new, authentic cuisines in every place. If her family end up liking something, she’ll come home, master the recipe, but make it healthier, easier, and faster to make while retaining its delicious, unique taste. While embarking on this personal culinary journey that spans many, many years, Vina not only realized the true essence of her own (traditionally Gujarati) cooking skills, but she discovered and perfected cuisines from all over the globe. This cookbook brings together those lessons.